Awareness for Firefighters

Cancer is the leading cause of firefighter line-of-duty deaths in the United States

Studies have shown that firefighters have increased risk of certain cancers the longer they spend working in the fire service

Heat from structure fires adds to the danger of exposure to toxic chemicals – with every 5 degrees in increased body temperature, skin absorption rates can increase by as much 400%

The Changing Landscape of Firefighting

Building materials which have been introduced over the last 40 years, such as engineered thermoplastics and laminated veneer lumber, have significantly contributed to the release of cancer causing agents during structure fires. In the first half of this century, homes consisted of ‘legacy’ finishings – those that were made of simple components including wood, textiles, metal, and glass. The legacy finishings of yesterday have been replaced by the synthetic materials of today, which include complex plastics, lightweight foams, industrial polymers, and chemical coatings. As a result, the firefighters now face fires that burn faster and hotter than ever before, and have been demonstrated to generate larger quantities of thick, toxic smoke. In fact, fire experts say synthetic materials create hundreds of times more smoke than organic ones and can increase toxic gasses 10-fold.

Personal Protective Equipment is Not Enough

Use of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBAs) has become the gold standard of respiratory protection during fire ground operations. Policies mandating the use of SCBAs have been adopted by both career and volunteer departments nationwide. Studies have shown that the use of SCBAs can eliminate or significantly decrease respiratory exposure to toxic particles during firefighting, but SCBA use is not enough. Firefighters are still at risk of absorbing the toxic products of combustion through the skin. Furthermore, while SCBAs may be worn during active interior firefighting, the use of SCBAs during overhaul is less common. During overhaul, firefighters can be exposed to toxic agents through the disassembly of walls, hooking of ceilings, removal of furniture and by the off gassing of burnt or smoldering material.

The bunker gear firefighters wear today offers great enhancements over the protective gear worn by previous generations. Between SCBAs, helmets, hoods, coats, pants, boots and gloves, encapsulated firefighters are afforded great protection from the hazardous, high heat environments of structure fires. While the multiple layers of gear provide protection against thermal insult, they fail from preventing the toxic smoke and gases from seeping through and depositing soot upon the skin. The intense heat only adds to the danger of exposure to toxic chemicals – with every 5 degrees in increased body temperature, skin absorption rates can increase by as much 400%.

Risk does not end once crews leave the fire ground. As operations conclude, the soot covered gear which provided protection in the IDLH environment, begins to pose a risk to firefighters by prolonging exposure to carcinogens. Studies have confirmed that when PPE becomes coated in the toxic agents encountered during firefighting, the gear itself can continue to transfer and off gas contaminants long after the incident has ended. Furthermore, the IARC identified diesel exhaust as being associated with increased cancer risks, which means firefighters may be placed at risk before they ever leave their stations. And considering bunker gear is commonly stored in the apparatus bay near the response vehicles, the gear will continue to accumulate contaminants over time.

Commonly found in cleaning materials and engineered wood-base material such as medium density fiberboard (MDF)

Glutaraldehyde

Used in the tanning process of leather, as a component in cleaning agents, and in the production of adhesives and sealants

Hydrogen Cyanide

Used in the manufacture of synthetic fibers

Orthotoluide

Used in the manufacture of more than 90 dyes and pigments and in synthetic rubbers

Polychlorinated Biphenyls*

Used in electrical equipment (e.g., capacitors), plasticizers, and lubricants

Sulfur Dioxide

Is produce by burning materials containing sulfur, such as household and personal cleaning products

Vinyl Chloride*

Is used to produce PVC and can be found in furniture, upholstery, wall coverings, and housewares

*These agents have been classified as "Carcinogenic to Humans" by either the IARC or EPA.

Cancers Commonly Associated with Firefighting

Studies have found that firefighting is associated with an increased risk for development of:

Bladder Cancer

Brain Cancer

Gastrointestinal Cancers

Leukemia

Lung Cancer

Kidney Cancer

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Melanoma

Myeloma

Prostate Cancer

Testicular Cancer

Urinary Cancer

As a result, a growing number of states have adopted presumptive cancer legislation to provide firefighters with workers’ compensation benefits should they develop a cancer associated with job related exposures. There is a recognized need for additional research examining gender specific cancers for women within the fire service.

The Fire Service Cancer Toolkit is brought to you by the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance and through the generous support of Lion and Dupont.

Finding out you, or someone you love, has cancer can be devastating. Receiving this diagnosis can release ever changing waves of emotion including fear, anger, depression, or hopelessness. This is normal and you are not alone. The good news is there are a wide variety of resources all developed to support you from the moment of diagnosis all the way through each phase of treatment.

FCSN provides assistance to fire/EMS personnel and their family members who have been diagnosed with cancer. They provide rapid post-diagnosis resources followed by one-on-one support from fellow firefighters and they will send you a FCSN signature toolbox free of charge. FCSN’s toolbox contains critical resources to help you plan, communicate, and take action with your doctors, your loved ones, and your brothers and sisters in the fire service. FCSN has more than 120 fire service mentors with personal experience facing many types of cancer. FCSN mentors can provide newly diagnosed fire/EMS members with valuable information about a particular type of cancer, share their own experiences with testing and treatments, and offer valuable insight into the recovery process.

Cancer is a disease that is of particular concern for members of the fire service. A number of previous studies have identified several cancers for which firefighters are at increased risk. To help further characterize this increased risk the IAFF, in response to members’ requests, has developed a Cancer Registry. IAFF members or a family member can use this website to report a cancer diagnosis. In addition to reporting the cancer, members are being asked to complete the Wellness Fitness Initiative questions which will provide necessary information for the Cancer Registry as well as for the WFI efforts.

2017 First Responder Center for Excellence for Reducing Occupational Illness, Injuries and Deaths, Inc. The First Responder Center for Excellence is an affiliate organization of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.